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Peoples column

People’s column

International designation may help airport soar Editor, OBSERVER: I have recently read the excellent commentary by editor John D’Agostino about a possible international designation at the airport in Jamestown. Bravo for putting the issue in the spotlight. Every time I have traveled from New York City (where I am a resident) to Jamestown (my hometown), I have lamented the fact that I could not fly into Jamestown. The airport in this community is lovely. It is well built, beautiful inside and outside, and convenient. It needs to function at the highest level. The editor is ...

People’s column

Generations helped build our region Editor, OBSERVER: With the publication this year of “Dunkirk: Then and Now,” Dunkirk Historical Museum President Diane Andrasik has emphasized the role of the national and state governments in establishing the physical assets of newly-settled territory. Specifically, on page 18, she discusses the 1858 construction of a “Divisional Arsenal” at the intersection of Fourth Street and Central Avenue. In 1874, the City took the building as City Hall until it burned down in 1925. Samuel Geer, my great great great grandfather, arrived in ...

People’s column: Spread the Word throughout month

Editor, OBSERVER: We are The Make A Mark Self Advocacy Group based out of The Resource Center in Dunkirk. We are writing this letter to spread awareness. As many of you may or may not know, in the month of March there is an annual campaign that takes place called Spread the Word to End the Word/Spread the Word for Inclusion. This campaign has been taking place nationwide since it was founded in 2009 by two college students named Soeren Palumbo and Tim Shriver. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of the fact that people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ...

People’s column

Forestville needs a new store Editor, OBSERVER: As a retired man that hasn’t driven in almost 10 years now I know we need Dollar General here in Forestville. I have started a petition online to get signatures to bring the store to our small hamlet. This is the web address -- https://chng.it/7GGzC5DBZC. Please help me help our community members, especially the older ones. JOHN SMITH, Forestville

People’s column: A day to salute Vietnam veterans

Editor, OBSERVER: On March 29, we will be observing National Vietnam Veterans Day. On this day, we honor more than 3 million Americans who served in and around a country in Southeast Asia that most had never heard of until they were asked to risk their lives for it. On this day, we remember the 58,318 dead whose names are engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a list that does not include thousands of subsequent deaths due to Agent Orange-related illnesses, suicide and other conditions related to their time in service. On this day, we say “welcome home” ...

Peoples Column

Roots to our past generations Editor, OBSERVER: I bought a tree from the Tree For Thee Project in support of the restoration of Point Gratiot and Wright Park, and I dedicated it to my grandma who owned Irene’s Beauty Shop back in the 1950s at Second and Gazelle streets. Martha Irene Steffan served her neighborhood well and was so generous to families in need, even way back then. She made sure certain families had gifts under the Christmas tree for their kids – every girl needed a doll, she told me. Bartering for payment with her farm customers resulted in bushels and baskets ...